Cipollini Wins Stage 4 of Med Tour

News & Results

02/17/2004| 0 comments
by Gerald Churchill

Cipollini Wins Stage 4 of Med Tour

Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) has won his first victory of the season.

Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) has won his first victory of the season. The Lion King dusted teammate Andrus Aug and Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) to take Stage 4 of the Mediterranean Tour, a 147-km ride from Greasque to Marignane, in 3:14:44. Igor Astarloa (Saeco) remains the overall leader.

Again, the racing began early. At 27 km, Chris Peers (Chocolate Jacques), Matej Jurco (De Nardi), Thorwald Veneberg (Rabobank), Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak), and Sandy Casar (La Francaise des Jeux.com) attacked. Nicolas Portal (Ag2r), Eddy Seigneur (RAGT-Semmence), and Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole) bridged up to the leaders. At 90 km, the bunch reeled in the break, but Nicolas Reynaud (RAGT-Semmence) launched a solo counterattack.

With seven km left, the peloton caught Reynaud. Domina Vacanze took over and led the Lion King into the last 200 m. Cipollini took over from there.

In the overall, Astarloa leads Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Sylvain Chavanel (Brioches La Boulangere) by 0:02. The race will come down to the fifth and final stage, a 28-km team time trial from La Garde to Toulon (Mont Faron). Who will the team time trial? Who will win the Mediterranean Tour? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!  

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